Level Fifty

With no other choice, Qian Daoliu could only watch helplessly as Qian Renxue and her party left the palace, unable to do a thing.

If he were to rashly follow them, he feared he would completely alienate his granddaughter, doing more harm than good.

He stood where he was, gazing at the direction the carriage had vanished, his face filled with a complex mix of reluctance and worry.

On the road to the Star Dou Great Forest, the surrounding trees gradually grew taller and denser.

Dugu Bo was somewhat curious as to why Qian Renxue had suddenly turned against Qian Daoliu, so he quickened his pace to catch up and asked in a low voice.

"My Lady, why did you ignore the Grand Elder?"

Qian Renxue's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of helplessness as she softly explained.

"Grandfather's birthday is in a few days. Given his personality, he certainly wouldn't celebrate it properly. So, I came up with a plan: I'll make him think I'm annoyed with him first, so he'll pay more attention to me. When his birthday arrives, I'll find an excuse to have him come over, and I can give him a surprise."

Hearing this plan, the group was stunned, their expressions varying.

They had not expected that, at such a young age, Qian Renxue would be so thoughtful and considerate regarding her grandfather.

If it were an ordinary little girl, she would likely only know how to act spoiled or throw a tantrum to demand her grandfather celebrate his birthday.

"Is there anything this old servant can do to help, My Lady?"

A trace of being moved flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes, and he spoke solemnly, determined to contribute to the Grand Elder's birthday.

"Not for now. I'll let you know when I need someone."

Qian Renxue planned to wait until the soul ring was obtained and they had returned to Martial Soul Hall before making further arrangements. She wanted to make her grandfather's birthday the most luxurious and unforgettable one on the entire continent.

Chen Xin walked at the very front of the party, saying nothing, but his heart could not remain calm for long.

He, too, wished for such a sensible granddaughter.

If he were Qian Daoliu and knew his granddaughter had begun planning for his birthday so early, he would probably be so happy he'd fly a lap around the continent.

He couldn't help but think of Ning Fengzhi's daughter, Ning Rongrong. That child was only a little over a year old; she had just learned to walk and was already being mischievous, like a tomboy—completely incomparable to Qian Renxue.

The group soon ventured deep into the middle reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Here, ancient trees towered into the sky, blocking out the sun; the dense branches and leaves obscured almost all light, making visibility extremely limited.

The humid air was filled with the scent of soil and vegetation, and no one knew if a ferocious soul beast might suddenly pounce from behind the next thicket.

Chen Xin carefully applied a layer of Soul Power shielding over Qian Renxue and cautioned her in a deep voice.

"From here on, you must stay close behind me. The areas ahead are mostly inhabited by ten-thousand-year soul beasts; you must be extremely careful."

Qian Renxue nodded obediently and followed behind Chen Xin.

Dugu Bo, Pufferfish Douluo, and Snake Lance Douluo guarded her left, right, and rear, providing tight protection.

With such a luxurious lineup, let alone the children of great families, even a king would not enjoy such security while traveling.

Qian Renxue could currently be called the safest person on the entire continent, bar none.

Swish! Swish!

A faint rustling sound suddenly came from the thicket to their side, and Chen Xin's eyes turned sharp in an instant.

He stepped forward cautiously, his Seven Kill Sword unsheathed. With a flash of sword light, he split the entire thicket in two.

Inside the brush, a poor Soft Bone Rabbit met its end, cleaved into two halves.

Seeing that it was just an ordinary rabbit, Chen Xin breathed a slight sigh of relief and waved for the group to continue forward.

Seeing Chen Xin so cautious, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. Was he treating her like a three-year-old? Even the slightest movement made him jump.

"ROAR!!!"

A deafening roar from a dragon-type soul beast suddenly erupted in the distance, the sound waves rolling toward them.

Chen Xin's expression changed upon hearing it, and he gripped his Seven Kill Sword instantly.

He could clearly feel that the soul beast was rapidly closing in on them.

Whoosh—!

A violent gale suddenly blew, and the sunlight above was instantly blocked out.

The group looked up and gasped in unison.

It was a massive Light Wing Dragon over ten meters long. A pair of enormous wings emitting a holy radiance grew from its back, and its scales shimmered with a dreamlike luster in the sparse light. It was nearly at the level of a hundred-thousand-year cultivation.

A trace of doubt flashed in Chen Xin's eyes.

For such a powerful soul beast nearing a hundred thousand years to exist without a single piece of information on the continent was truly bizarre.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Might Shakes All Directions!"

A black soul ring lit up beneath Chen Xin's feet. The next second, countless falling swords appeared in the sky, piercing toward the Light Wing Dragon's magnificent wings like a torrential downpour.

In pain, the Light Wing Dragon let out a sharp dragon cry and angrily raised its giant claw, intending to stomp Chen Xin to death.

Chen Xin's expression remained unchanged, and he executed another soul skill with ease.

"Second Soul Skill: Spirit Sword Guard!"

Clang!!

The giant claw slammed fiercely against the shield condensed from sword energy, producing a deafening metallic clang, yet it failed to inflict any damage.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!"

Swish, swish, swish!

Countless strands of sword energy from the surroundings converged frantically, forming an incomparably massive phantom of the Seven Kill Sword around Chen Xin.

Chen Xin gripped the giant sword, leaped high into the air, and slashed down violently toward the head of the Light Wing Dragon.

Seeing this, the Light Wing Dragon hurriedly curled its wings to protect its head.

BOOM!!!

The Seven Kill Sword struck the wings heavily, kicking up a terrifying wave of air.

The violent shockwave spread in all directions, blowing Qian Renxue until she swayed, nearly unable to stand steady.

Chen Qi was quick-witted; he grabbed her arm, pulled her behind him, and shielded her firmly.

As the smoke gradually dissipated, the Light Wing Dragon's wings were split wide open. It lay on the ground, drenched in blood and on the verge of death, letting out low, painful groans.

Chen Xin looked at Qian Renxue and said earnestly.

"Qian Renxue, if you can absorb a ninety-nine-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-year soul ring, you could try absorbing this one."

He knew this was nearly impossible for a four-ring Soul Ancestor, but Qian Renxue had always been unconventional; perhaps she really had a way.

Qian Renxue nodded and, taking Chen Qi with her, stepped forward to end the Light Wing Dragon's life.

Soon after, a soul ring so black it appeared red slowly rose from its massive body.

Chen Qi beckoned with his hand, and the soul ring entered his body directly.

Feeling the surging power erupting within him, he immediately sat cross-legged to begin absorption.

Qian Renxue also sensed the powerful energy emerging from thin air within her and closed her eyes to absorb it alongside Chen Qi.

Seeing this, Chen Xin's eyes widened in shock.

In all his years, this was the first time he had ever seen a martial soul used in such a manner.

Soul beasts over ten thousand years old possess intelligence; when absorbing their rings, one must not only endure the physical strain but also withstand a massive impact on the soul.

Could Chen Qi and Qian Renxue... really pull this off?

Chen Xin couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for the pair.

Come to think of it, this was all thanks to the system, which had stated that its host's soul space could contain only itself; any soul attacks or possession attempts that intruded were instantly erased.

Because of this, Chen Qi and Qian Renxue were immune to soul shocks.

Time ticked by, and after a full hour, a bright red soul ring slowly emerged from beneath Qian Renxue's feet.

Chen Qi and Qian Renxue opened their eyes simultaneously, stood up, and stretched.

"Wait? A hundred-thousand-year soul ring?!"

Dugu Bo was struck with astonishment.

It was his first time seeing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring with his own eyes—hadn't that Light Wing Dragon been one year short just a moment ago? How did it turn into a hundred-thousand-year ring in the blink of an eye?

Chen Qi hadn't expected Qian Renxue's martial soul to upgrade directly, reaching the hundred-thousand-year level, the rarest on the Douluo Continent.

"System, what is going on?"

"Ding, because the residual medicinal power of the immortal herb within Qian Renxue's body allowed the soul ring to successfully evolve during the fusion process."

Chen Qi nodded; he hadn't expected the immortal herb to have such a miraculous effect. It truly was a supreme treasure!

Boom, boom, boom!

Nine crisp sounds of breakthrough echoed in succession from within Qian Renxue's body.

After absorbing the soul ring, she had broken through directly to level fifty! This meant she could now continue to absorb a new soul ring!